Counterbalance



Dec. 23,1930. c. H. BERGQUIST 7 1,786,143

coun'wamumcs Filed May 16. 1929 2 Shoots-Shut 1 Dec. 23, 1,930. c. H. BERGQUIST 1,786,143

COUNTERBALANCE Filed May 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 PATENT OFFHCE CHARLES H. BERGQUIST, OF OKMULGEE,

OKLAHOMA, nssrcnoa or ONE-HALF T EMEnY A. LOCKE, on OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA ooUnrnnBALANon Application filed May 16,

This invention relates to counterbalances for use in connection with the pumping equipment of wells.

The pumps in most general use for the recovery of oil from deep wells employ a rocking beam having connection at one end with the sucker rods to reciprocate the same within' the well and having connection at the other end with a suitable prime mover through the intervention of a band wheel assembly and a pitman rod. v In the operation of extremely deep wells, it is also customary to provide some means to counterbalance the weight of the sucker rods and such counterbalancing means sometimes take the form of a weight attached to the end of the rocking beam remote from the sucker rods. In other cases, the counterbalance is attached to the band wheel or to the band wheel shaft and turns therewith. Of course, the mounting of a counterbalancing weight on the band wheel or theshaft thereof hasthe advantage of continuously turning in the same direction as distinguished from the disadvantage of a back and forth movement of a weight attached to the beam.

Another method of counterbalancing the weight of the sucker rods, and which has been in use for many years,provides for the operation of the pumps of two wells from the same band wheel assembly with the load of the pump of one well balancing the load of the pump of the other well. This arrangement contemplates twocranks on the band wheel shaft and located at an angle of 180 to each other so that as one'pump is on the up stroke, the other will be on the down stroke and vice versa.

In all the counterbalances of which I am aware, including those mentioned above, the disconnection of the counterbalance to adapt the band wheel assembly to purposes other than pumping is a difficult and time consuming task necessitating prolongation of the period of shut down with a concurrent loss of production and thus, the herein disclosed counterbalance, like those disclosed in my copending applications, is intended to provide for the quick and easy disconnection of the counterbalance and for the expeditious reap- 1929. Serial No. 363,694.

plication of the same when it is desired to resume pumping so that only a negligible portion of the period of shut down to remove tubing or for some similar purpose will be chargeable to the time required to disconnect and reapply the counterbalance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counterbalance'which may be raised conveniently into rigid operative connection with the band wheel shaft from a position at rest beneath the band wheel shaft andlowered from such operative position without the aid of extraneous lifting devices, such as jacks or chain hoists, and without excessive manual effort, it being noted in this connection that the ease of raising and lowering the counterbalance is a matter of importance because of the tremendous weight of the counter alance.

Another aim is to provide a counterbalance capable of application to a band wheel as sembly of conventional design without elabo rate alteration of the band wheel assembly or departure from established production methods.

Further, the invention contemplates a counterbalance in which the main attaching member or block thereof may be secured to the band wheel shaft in a relatively permanent manner so that sufficient rigidity may he provided in the first instance to combat the tendency toward looseness as a result of continued operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the improved counterbalance applied,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the counterbalance applied,

Figure 3 is a group perspective illustrating the interfitting connection between the various sections of the weighted body and between the weighted bodyand the attaching member thereof,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the counterbalance at rest onthe derrick floor beneath the hand wheel shaft, the attaching block being shown mounted rigidly on the band wheel shaft,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary group perspective illustrating a modification of the invention,

Figure 6 is afragmentary group perspective illustrating a further modification of the invention.

In the drawings, the numerals 7 and 8 designate a pair of jack posts suitably braced as indicated at 9 and having the upper portions thereof provided with sectional bearings 10 and 11, respectively, through which a band wheel shaft 12 is extended. The usual band wheel 14 is mounted on the band wheel shaft between the jack posts 7 and 8 and, as is known to those skilled in this art, an operating belt extending from a convenient source of power is trained about the band wheel to drive the same and thereby impart a reciprocating motion to the pitman 16 having connection with the shaft 12 by the customary crank 18. Of course, the usual beam referred to in the opening paragraphs of this specification and not shown in the drawings, has connection at one end thereof with the pitman rod 16, while the other end thereof has connection with the sucker rods.

AS shown in Figure 1, the counterbalance is mounted on the end of the shaft 12 remote from the crank 18 so that the strain on the shaft and the associated bearings is distribute'd.

The weighted body portion of the improved counterbalance is designated by the numeral 20 and comprises a plurality of separate sections 22, the outermost one of which may be substantially larger than the other sections and has its ends extended beyond the ends of the adjacent section to provide the greatest weight at the outer portion of the counterbalance. The various sections 22 of the weighted body are provided in the op posed sides thereof with interfitting connections preferably in the nature of tongues and grooves 24 and 26 respectively, such interfitting connections terminating short of the ends d sides of the sections and being closely interfit to hold the sections against endwise and lateral shifting with respect to each other. It will be seen that each section is provided in one side with a groove 26 and in the other side with a raised tongue 24 so that it is a simple matter to either add or take away one or more sections to provide the desired weight.

An interfitting connection similar to that between the various sections 22 is provided between the innermost section and the at taching block 28 shown in Figure 2 to be keyed in a relatively permanent manner to the band wheel shaft 12.

The weighted portion 20 of the improved counterbalance may be secured in an operative position with respect to the attaching block 28 by a pair of U-bolts or hangers 30, the bight portions of which are detachably received in transverse depressions or grooves 32 extending entirely across the arcuate lower face of the outermost section 22. The arms or sides of the U-shaped bolts are extended up along opposite faces or surfaces of the weighted body portion 20 of the counterbalance and have the threaded upper portions thereof passed through the apertured ends of attaching plates or members 3-1. Figure 1 illustrates that the members 34: are snugly received within transverse grooves or depressions 35 in the upper surface of the attaching block 28 and have the apcrtured end portions thereof extended beyond the block for the reception of the threaded portions of the U-bolts.

In carrying out the invention, the threaded portions of the U-bolts are provided with nuts 36 which may be advanced to raise the weighted body portion 20 into firm rigid engagement with the attaching block 28 and to establish a firm pressure contact between the various sections of the weighted body to produce, in effect, a one-piece structure. In this connection it will be noted that a generous area of contact is provided between the various sections of the body 20 and between the body and the attaching block 28 so that when the nuts 36 are tightened and the parts positioned illustrated in Figure 2 looseness will be positively avoided.

For the original application of the improved counterbalance, the attaching block 28 is keyed on the band wheel shaft in a relatively permanent manner and since this connection is intended to be permanent extreme rigidity may be provided to avoid subsequent looseness.

After the attaching block has been keyed in place, the weighted body portion 20 is positioned below the same as suggested in Figure 4 and the U-shaped arms 30 are swung up to a parallel position to locate the connecting plates 34 within the grooves 35, after which the nuts 36 may be advanced to raise the body 20 into firm pressure engagement with the block and to establish the desired firm pressure engagement between the various sections of the body. Such firm pressure engagement between the various sections of the body and between the body and the attaching block, combined with the interlocking connections 242G, positively avoid shifting of the sections with respect to each other so that the advantages of a one-piece body are attained without the disadvantages of a single casting.

lVhen it is desired to adapt the band wheel assembly to purposes other than pumping, the weighted portion of the counter-balance is detached and to do this it is merely necessary to retract the nuts 36 sufliciently to lower the counterbalance to a position at rest either on the derrick floor or a block mounted thereon and then swing the hangers 30 outwardly. The weightedbody is eitherlowered a sufficient extent to allow of the free turning of the attaching block 28-with the band wheel shaft or the uppermost section 22 of the weighted block is removed to avoid collision those made by the operator from scrap materials found around the derrick.

With further reference to the low cost of manufacture it is pointed out that the grooves or depressions 32 and 35 may be provided during the casting operation. The same applies to the tongues 24 and the grooves 26 to receive the tongues. The only machine work required for the manufacture ofthe counterbalance is in the threading of the U-bolts 30 and the reaming of the hole in the attaching block for the reception of the shaft 12. The small amount of machine time required for the manufacture of the counterbalance reduces the necessary handling of the various heavy parts and consequently makes possible a relatively low manufacturing cost.

. In the form of invention illustrated in Figure 5, the weighted portion of the counterbalance is designated by the numeral 40 and comprises aplurality of separate sections 41 having the opposed surfaces thereof provided with raised crosses or intersecting tongues 42 adaptedto be received snugly in similarly shaped recesses or grooves 45 in the opposed surfaces of the sections so that lateral and endwise shifting of the sections is avoided. A similar interfitting connection is provided between the innermost section 41 and the attaching block 43, the latter being shown to be keyed on the band wheel shaft.

The outermost section of the weighted body 40 has the ends thereof extended beyond the contiguous section and formed with sockets 44 within which hangers or attaching arms 46 are pivoted as indicated at 47. The upper portions of the arms 46 are threaded and are adapted to be received within grooves 48 opening out through opposite sides of the at taching block 43 and the upper and lower edges of the block. Of course, suitable nuts or fastening devices are threaded on the arms 46 and are adapted to raise the weighted body 40 up into firm pressure interlocking engage. ment with the block 43 and to establish a firm interfitting connection between the sections 41. The ends of the sections 41, except the outermost section, are provided with grooves 49 registering with each other and adapted for registration with the grooves 48 to receive the arms or hangers 46. When the arms 46 are received within the registering grooves 48 and 49, the sections 41 will be fur ther held against shifting with respect to each other and with respect to the attaching block 43.

"It might be pointed out that the bottom walls of the sockets 44 are extended upward to form stops to limit outward swinging movement of the arms 46. Such an arrangement holds the arms off the derrick fioor so that the same may be gripped easily and swung into the registering grooves 48 and 49 without unnecessary loss of time.

In the form of invention illustrated in Fig. ure ,6, the weighted body is designated by the numeral 50 and comprises a plurality of separate sections 52, the innermost one of which is adapted for pressure engagement with the attaching block 54 keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the band wheel shaft. An interfitting connection is provided between the various sections 52 and between the innermost section and the attaching block 54 and such connection comprises raised tongues 56 and grooves 58 to receive the tongues. Since the tongue and groove connections 5658 terminate short of the ends and the opposite sides of the counterbalance, lateral and endwise shifting of the various sections with respect to each other and with respect to the attaching block 54 is inhibited.

The outermost'section of the body 54 has the ends thereof extended beyond the contiguous section and formed with sockets 60 within which the lower ends of hangers or arms 62 are pivoted as indicated at 64. The upper terminal portions of the arms 62 are threaded and are provided with nuts adapted to be advanced to raise the weighted portion 50 to operative position in pressure engagement with the attaching block whereby theband wheel assembly may be employed for purposes other than pumping. In this form of invention, the hangers 62 are adapted to extend along the plain ends of the sections 52 and extend into the grooves 66 in opposite ends of the attaching block 62. It is believed to be apparent that it is a simple matter to swing the arms 62 into or out of the grooves 66 preparatory to the raising or lowering of the weighted portion 50.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Ina'counterbalance for use in connection with band wheel assemblies, an attaching block having means whereby the same may be secured in a relatively permanent manner to a band wheel shaft, a weighted body associated with said attaching block, a pair of U-shaped members having bight portions engaged with the outer portion of said weighted body and having arms at opposite sides of the body, and means associated with said arms to raise the body into pressure engagement with said attaching member and to lower the body to a position at rest beneath the attaching block.

2. In a counterbalance for use in connection with band wheel assemblies, an attaching block having means whereby the same may be secured in a relatively permanent manner to a band wheel shaft, a weighted body associated with said attaching block, a pair of U-shaped members having bight portions engaged with the outer portion of said weighted body and having arms at opposite sides of the body, and means associated with said arms to raise the body into pressure engagement with said attaching member and to lower the body to a position at rest beneath the attaching block, said weighted body being provided with means limiting lateral. movement of the bight portions of said U- shaped members with respect to the weighted body.

3. In a counterbalance for use in connection with band wheel assemblies, an attaehing block having means whereby the same may be secured in a relatively permanent manner to a band wheel shaft, a weighted body associated with said attaching block, a pair of U-shaped members having bight portions engaged with the outer portion of said weighted body and having arms at opposite sides of the body, and means assoeiated with said arms to raise the body into pressure engagement with said attaching member and to lower the body to a position at rest beneath the attaching block, said weighted body being provided with transverse grooves detachably receiving the bight portion of said U-shaped members and limiting lateral movement of the same.

4. In a counterbalance for use in connection with band wheel assemblies, an attaching block having means. whereby the same may be secured in a relatively permanent manner to a band wheel shaft, a weighted body associated with said attaching block, U-shaped members havin bight portions engaged with the outer portion of said weighted body, fastening devices extending across said attaching block and having openings receiving the terminal portions of said U-shaped members, and means mounted on the terminal portions of said U-shaped members to raise the weighted body into pressure rela tion to said attaching block and to lower the weighted body to a position at rest beneath the attaching block.

5. In a counterbalance for use in connection with band wheel assemblies, an attaching block having means whereby the same may be secured in a relatively permanent manner to a band Wheel shaft, a Weighted body associated with said attaching block, U-shaped members having bight portions engaged with the outer portion of said weighted body, fastening devices extending across. said attaching block and having openings receiving the terminal portions of said U-shaped members, and means mounted on the terminal portions of said U-shaped members to raise the weighted body into pressure relation to said attaching block and to lower the weighted body to a position at rest beneath the attaching block, said attaching block being provided with transverse grooves snugly receiving said fastening devices and limiting lateral movement thereof.

6. In a counterbalance for use in connection with band wheel assemblies, and attaching block having means whereby the same may be secured to the shaft of a band wheel assembly, a weighted body associated with said block and being provided with a plurality of separate sections, there being interlocking means between the sections and between the attaching block and the adjacent section, U-shaped hangers having bight portions extending across. the outermost section of the weighted body and engaged therewith and being provided with arms at opposite sides of said weighted body, fastening plates extending across said attaching block and being provided with openings receiving the terminal portions of said U-shaped hangers, and fastening nuts mounted on said U-shaped hangers and adapted to be advanced to raise said weighted body into pressure engagement with said attaching block and to establish a firm pressure engagement between the sections of the body.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. BERGQUIST. 

